About lilyPD
Teaching is a profession built on continual learning. Every year, educators face new standards, emerging technologies, evolving research, and the changing needs of their students. Yet finding high-quality professional learning that is practical, flexible, and worth the time can be difficult. lilyPD was created to change that.
our guiding principle
Professional learning that respects teachers
Our mission is to provide engaging, evidence-based professional learning that helps educators strengthen their practice, deepen student learning, and build confidence in the classroom. Whether you’re looking to learn a new instructional strategy, strengthen your content knowledge, earn professional development hours, or simply find fresh inspiration, lilyPD is designed to support your growth. We believe professional development should be:
Intellectually rigorous
Backed by research in evidence-based learning practices. Bolstered by the expertise of William & Mary.
Immediately useful
Resources that you can save today and use tomorrow. Created by teachers with years of classroom experience.
Designed around the realities of teachers’ busy lives
Jump into a course whenever feel right to you. Start from where you left off.
By Educators, For Educators
Our team!
Creating exceptional professional learning requires diverse expertise. Our team combines experience in teaching, educational research, organizational leadership, instructional design, media production, and digital learning. Together, we understand the realities of schools and what it takes to create meaningful, practical learning for educators. Launched in 2022, our division, Strategic Cultural Partnerships (SCP) is designed to bridge the gap between the university, museums, K–12 schools, and educational organizations.
Our Story
Beginnings
lilyPD began with a simple observation: teachers deserve professional learning that is every bit as thoughtfully designed as the learning experiences they create for students.
Straight away, we challenged ourselves with the question of how we can bring practical, impactful, and engaging professional learning to teachers – at scale. It would have to be easily accessible, flexible, and able to be delivered in the moment of need.
listening to teachers
Next Steps
Online microlearning seemed to have the potential to tick all the boxes. We didn’t want to just replicate the typical model out in the world, though. We wanted to work with classroom teachers from the outset to create the kind of online PD experience that teachers deserve. Two years of research, feedback, and brainstorming have gone into creating the lilyPD design principles that are the foundation for our courses. As we talked with teachers about these emerging design principles and what they wanted and needed, we made an interesting observation. Teachers – particularly in history and civics – were often inspired by attending teacher institutes with museums and educational non-profits. The content and teaching strategies they learned were just different enough to inspire new possibilities for them in the classroom.
always learning
Today
lilyPD serves educators by bringing together university faculty, classroom teachers, museum educators, instructional designers, and subject-matter experts to create learning experiences that connect research with practice. At every stage of the process, we have invited and benefited from insights, feedback, and ideas from classroom teachers and school leaders. We are absolutely committed to being a learning team guided by what we learn from our partners.
Powered by
William & Mary
Founded in 1693, William & Mary has a long tradition of academic excellence, thoughtful inquiry, collaboration, and public service. For generations, the university has brought together scholarship, teaching, and service to engage with communities near and far.
Our Partners
lilyPD is strengthened through collaboration with educational institutions, museums, libraries, nonprofits, and subject-matter experts who share our commitment to excellent teaching.
Looking Ahead
Our Vision
Education is constantly evolving, and so is lilyPD. We continue to develop new courses, expand partnerships, and explore innovative ways to support educators throughout their careers. Our vision is to build a growing community of lifelong learners who are committed to improving teaching and learning—for every student, every classroom, and every community.
Thank you for learning with us.
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